Purpose

To require health plans to cover medically necessary dental procedures that come directly from cancer treatment, and the related care needed to support those procedures.

Main Provisions

• Health plans must cover medically necessary dental procedures that are the direct result of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, biotherapy, and radiation therapy.
• The coverage must include not only the dental procedures themselves but also evaluations and examinations, laboratory assessments, medications, and other treatments associated with those procedures.

Scope and Coverage

• Applies to all health plans defined in Minnesota Statutes section 62Q.01.
• Coverage is tied to dental care that is directly caused by cancer treatment, ensuring patients receive the dental services and related care needed as a result of cancer therapy.

Significance / Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new coverage obligation for health plans to pay for dental care related to cancer treatment, expanding what health plans must cover beyond standard dental care.
• Emphasizes that coverage includes all connected services (evaluations, exams, labs, meds, and treatments) required for the medically necessary dental procedures.

Practical Impact

• People undergoing cancer treatment who experience dental health needs directly caused by their cancer therapy would have those needs covered by their health plans, reducing out-of-pocket costs for necessary dental care and related services.

Relevant Terms

• health plans
• Minnesota Statutes section 62Q.01
• cancer treatment
• medically necessary dental procedures
• direct result
• chemotherapy
• biotherapy
• radiation therapy
• evaluations
• examinations
• laboratory assessments
• medications
• treatments
• coverage
• Minnesota Statutes chapter 62Q